pic: Andymark's New Product

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

I understood the original concept, but what are the curved up tabs sticking out the sides for in this design?
I will refrain from my next comment about those tabs before I hear their purpose, since I assume they have one.

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I don't know if this is the intent, but they seem perfect as hooks for a rubber band on each side of the tensioner pairs.

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Bingo... rubber bands or o-rings will fit on those hooks.
Andy B.

Ok. I can safely comment about those curved features now.

In our typical chassis designs, we run our chain in a very tight area between 2 metal plates. I'm concerned in our design (and in similar one's I've seen) that those tabs are sticking out way too much to be effective & not get snagged on those plates, or anything mounted inside those plates. (Bronze bushings, spacers, screw heads, etc...)

We had our frame spaced so tightly one year in terms of area between plates, that a rushed replacement socket head cap screw (rather than the original flat head screw) actually popped the chain right at the link in the finals match of a competition.

I love this design, but I'm just saying that if we were to use these, we would more than likely just use zip-ties, not use the rubber bands or o-rings (which I think will wear out even more quickly over a competition anyways and require more maintenence - even more so than the blocks themselves with the concerns Greg N. posted) & we would probably cut or shave those curved tabs right off.

Just a thought from someone with bad experience with a hardware vs chain matchup in a real world design application.

Of course, your results may vary.